Category Archives: Architecture

floating, not sinking

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Airbnb continues to come up with clever, eye-catching gimmicks to grab our attention. They’ve put pop-up rentals on ski jumps and on moving cable cars, now the world-dominating rental juggernaut has floated a 70-ton house—complete with garden, grass and trees— up … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, Hotels, Tourism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Viewed Through The Monocle

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

If you’re a fan of Monocle magazine and media, then the newly launched Monocle Travel Guide Series is for you. Published by Berlin-based Gestalen, the slim travel guides will be priced at $15 retail. As you might expect, the full … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Europe, Museums, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Walking New York

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The New York Times Magazine commissioned the French street artist known as JR to create this amazing cover for this week’s edition. JR painted an eye-popping 150-foot tall image of 20-year old Azerbaijani waiter Elmar Aliyev and then had it … Continue reading →

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Fantastic Cities

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

It seems that adult coloring books (no, not that kind) are a thing now. They’re even topping Amazon’s bestseller list. Ontario Canada-based artist Steve McDonald has created a timely coloring book for grown-ups called Fantastic Cities. The highly detailed architectural … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Canada | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Not Your Corner Starbucks

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

We are living in a golden age of coffeehouses and coffee culture, but for me nothing will ever match the charms of the quintessentially Viennese kaffeehaus. Give me a groβer schwarzer , ein apfelstrudel and the daily paper in one … Continue reading →

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Beautiful Barcelona

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

If you have ever visited Barcelona, you likely returned home raving about the city’s stunning architecture. Now along with Barcelona’s grand townhouses, mansions, museums, churches, and historical sites hundreds of late 19th and early 20th century small retail buildings are getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Europe, Museums, Restaurants, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Vienna is calling all bibliophiles

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

On April 18th, the new Literature Museum of the Austrian National Library will officially open in Vienna. The institution will document the nation’s literature with rare manuscripts, books, letters, photographs, illustrations and related objects. Situated in the heart of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Museums, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Bucharest for Booklovers

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The former Chrissoleveni bank building in the heart of Bucharest, Romania, has been transformed into a bibliophile’s dream bookstore. Carturesti Carusel , or carousel of light, covers six floors of the grand 19th century building, with more than 10,000 titles, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Sin City

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

I have to admit that I was dazzled by my first view of Las Vegas from a plane, but photographer Vincent Laforet’s images of Sin City from 10,000 feet at night are truly breathtaking . Taken while literally hanging out … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Hotels, Photography, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Europe for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The UK travel booking website lastminute.com produced this sexually suggestive video titled “Sexy Delights of Europe” for a Valentine’s Day ad campaign. The short film features famous works of art, architectural highlights, and gastronomical specialties all with heavy-handed sexual innuendo … Continue reading →

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